Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

KIWI magazine features articles from Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician who is known for his encouraging and informative pieces about children's health, parenting in general, and going green.  In their April 2007 issue, KIWI offered up Dr. Greene's "Organic Prescription" for families who want to start greening things up at home, but can't figure out where to start.

One of the things I love about this list is that it works really well with other lists that offer information about the most (and least) important produce items to purchase organic versions of.  Dr. Greene takes it one step further by pointing out the importance of organic dairy products (my own personal first baby step years ago!) and other items, rather than sticking only to the fruit and veggie lists.

Be sure to check out that fruit and veggie list after you read this over!

1. Milk.  Why?  Organic milk is produced without the use of antibiotics, artificial hormones or pesticides.
2. Potatoes.  Why?  Americans eat a lot of 'em, especially as french fries.  Pesticide fries, anyone?
3. Peanut butter.  Why?  Fungicide use on peanuts is very common.  Organic versions also offer up fewer doses of things like corn syrup, sugar, and hydrogenated fats.
4. Baby food.  You can buy organic baby food in the jar or make your own quite easily. (I plan to try both, personally; we'll see how I do with the homemade stuff first!)  If you are already buying organic produce, making your own organic baby food is a snap.
5. Ketchup.  Why?  Organic versions have 57% higher levels of lycopene.  That's a good thing!
6. Cotton.  Why?  Two-thirds of cotton crops are used for food production, and cotton is heavily sprayed with pesticides.  If it has cottonseed oil in it, organic is the way to go.
7. Apples.  Why?  Can you say superdose of pesticides?  Let's not even get into the waxes and other goo applied to apples.  (Personally I think they taste better too.)
8. Beef.  Why?  We're back to the antibiotics and growth hormones here, folks.  Grass-fed, organically raised beef is also leaner.  Want something that's automatically in this category?  Try buffalo.  I started substituting ground buffalo for ground beef in recipes and the whole family loves it.  Not only that, but it's even leaner than beef!  Mmm...it's what's for dinner.  (See my Menu Plan for this week.)
9. Soy.  Why?  Soy is in everything these days, practically; these days it's one of the most pesticide contaminated crops out there.  Not only that but 80% of soy crops are genetically modified.  Organics can't be GMOs.  *phew!*
10. Corn.  Why?  Speaking of GMOs: corn is the winner.  Most American corn is grown from genetically modified seeds.  It's not easy to switch to organic corn products since the conventional version is so prevalent, but I agree with Dr. Greene when he says "the change will do wonders for the health of your family and the Earth."